Pet Food Compositions

Abstract

Described herein are controlled release pet food compositions comprising: a matrix comprising: a fiber component comprising a high solubility fiber source and low solubility fiber source, and a polyphenol source; wherein the matrix is adapted to deliver the polyphenol source to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a mammal after ingestion by the mammal. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a symptom of an inflammatory disease, condition or disorder in a mammal or beneficially manipulating the gut microflora of a mammal, comprising administering an effective amount of a controlled release pet food composition to a mammal in need thereof, wherein the controlled release pet food composition comprises:
 a matrix comprising:   a fiber component comprising a high solubility fiber source and low solubility fiber source, and
 a polyphenol source; 
   wherein the matrix is adapted to deliver the polyphenol source to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a mammal after ingestion by the mammal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of high solubility fiber source to low solubility fiber source is from about 1:20 to about 1:1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high solubility fiber source comprises oat bran, buckwheat groats, pea bran, barley, tomato pomace, citrus pulp, beet pulp, and a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low solubility fiber source comprises a cellulosic material, a pecan fiber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphenol source is of food or plant origin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polyphenol source of food origin comprises a polyphenol of fruit or vegetable origin. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphenol source comprises a flavonoid or a phenolic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphenol source provides a polyphenol selected from: dehydroxy rosmarinic acid, Coumaroylnepitrin, eupafolin, carnosol, scutellarin, kaempferol, rosmarinic acid, rosmanol, cirsimaritin, luteolin, 6-methoxy-luteolin, 7-epirosmannol, quercetin, catechin, hesperidin, cyanidin, and a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pet food further comprises a source of hydrolyzed animal or plant protein comprising an amino acid profile. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the source of hydrolyzed animal or plant protein comprises chicken liver. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the source of hydrolyzed animal or plant protein is present in an active content of from about 25 to about 45 wt. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pet food composition further comprises high docosahexaenoate fish oil. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the active content of the high docosahexaenoate fish oil is from about 0.5 to about 2.5 wt. %. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber component of the pet food composition comprises pecan shells, flax seed, citrus pulp, beet pulp, cranberry pomace, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pet food composition comprises:
 from about 1 to about 10 wt. % of pecan shells;   from about 1 to about 5 wt. % of flax seed;   from about 1 to about 5 wt. % of citrus pulp;   from about 1 to about 5 wt. % of beet pulp; and   from about 0.1 to about 2 wt. % of cranberry pomace.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pet food composition comprises:
 from about 2.5 to about 8 wt. % of pecan shells;   from about 2 to about 4 wt. % of flax seed;   from about 2 to about 3 wt. % of citrus pulp;   from about 2 to about 3 wt. % of beet pulp; and   from about 0.5 to about 1.5 wt. % of cranberry pomace.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pet food composition comprises:
 about 7 wt. % of pecan shells;   about 3 wt. % of flax seed;   about 2.5 wt. % of citrus pulp;   about 2.5 wt. % of beet pulp; and   about 1 wt. % of cranberry pomace.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pet food composition comprises:
 about 3.5 wt. % of pecan shells;   about 1.5 wt. % of flax seed;   about 1.25 wt. % of citrus pulp;   about 1.25 wt. % of beet pulp; and   about 0.5 wt. % of cranberry pomace.